Please help - bias to radial wheel/tire question

Hey there, I tried searching for some info on this, but to no avail... I am hoping some of you guys/gals have some insight, and can help me with this issue... I have bias ply tires (with tubes) on my 1953 Cranbrook, but I picked up a set of radials for it. My plan is/was to have the bias tires removed, sandblast each wheel, primer and paint them, then have the radials mounted. After going through part of the process with one wheel, the tire place told me they didn't have valve stems for these wheels. The hole is oval shaped (since with tubes, it doesn't need to be circular). So what should I do? Have tubes put in the radials? Doesn't seem normal to me, and I'd hate to shell out more money right now on different rims. I know some of you know something I don't! Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

 

Bolt-in valve stems .... check a GOOD tire store.

 

Actually, I'm waiting to hear back from this place to see if they can get those. They had one, but it was slightly bigger, and didn't fit in the hole on my wheel. Thanks for the input, I'm thinking this is the way to go.

 

At the moment i run tubes in radial tyres (sorry slightly O/T) on my 60's caravan and current ride. I can't afford WW's for now so use porto-walls and they tend to make tires leak air, hence the tubes. Haven't had an issue running them til now.

 

The wheels are steel, right ?

So make the holes smaller or bigger, to suit.

 

Weld up the hole and re drill it round. plus you can move the hole if you want

 

I'm running tubes in my radials on stock 53 Dodge wheels. Six years no problems.

 

They do have tubes for radial tires. No reason you can't run them.

 

Get the bolt in valve stems ,drill the holes to match and use another tire shop .One that wants to help you not give excuses.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I'll have to give some thought to which way I wanna go.

Good to know. The guy at the tire place said the ribs on the inside of the radials would rub on the tube and eventually the tire would go flat. Guess not!

 

I've run the right tubes in radials for years on many cruisers and never had a problem. Always had an issue with funds, not a rich guy and only had a few cars with genuine WW's on them but always loved the look. I use my cars and put plenty of miles on them. Had plenty of folk say you can't run tubes or porto-walls rub tyres out and don't fit. Been doing this for years and never had an issue with either. I've always used tubes for radials and not just any old tube, cheap enough aswell.

Edit.. I always carry a spare tube to be safe but never needed to use it

 

one more vote for doing whatever it takes to resize the holes in your rim to fit available valve stems. why run tubes if you don't have to?

 

Most truck tire dealers will have the oval bolt in stems. They have a br*** finish on them.

 

is an Idiot.


He obviously doesn't know his stuff, or want your business.
Or maybe he just wants to sell you another set of wheels.

Either way, the IDIOT comment stands.
Find someone else.

 

Make sure you inspect the inside of the new tires. Many of them hav one or more little mylar bar code stickers inside the tire. These will definately rub, chafe and eventually work thier way into a flat tire. When i used to run tubed radials I would always dust in some talc powder or cornstarch around the inside in order to provide some anti chaffe.

But it si much simpler to find the two piece screwed together valve stems.

 

See if these will fit. Buy them...done...

http://www.ezaccessory.com/TR501_Oval_Truck_Valve_Stem_Length_p/v1561sp.htm?1=1&CartID=0

 

You can buy screw in valve stems at any reputable auto parts store. Try NAPA or a reasonable facsimile there of. Or you can buy tubes they need to be radial tubes.

I personaly wouldn't put radials on the old wheel. I am ***umeing here that you are running original wheels on the cranbrook and that they are not saftey rims, but it has been done in the past and it is up to you.

 

Bingo, you're taking a chance that those rims will even hold air for a tubeless tire. A lot of them won't as they were NOT designed to run tubeless tires.

 

Well I picked up the wheel and tire from the tire shop this morning, since they were no help... I'll try NAPA for those truck valve stems. Maybe I'll try the radial on one wheel, and see if it holds air. That was another thing I was unsure of (putting radials on rims designed to run bias ply's). However, they are not split rims, so I guess the only way they could leak air would be from where the bead should seat? I'm praying this works out, since I just wanna drive the car without buying another set of wheels, and I thought putting radials on it would be safer, more stable, etc... I'll have to do it tomorrow, gotta go to work soon

 

Stock mopar rims have been used quite succesfully without leaks or without rim failure by a goo number of folks. The repoped cl***ic style aren't a concern. The lower profile newer style tires(60 and 70 aspect ratio) are not a good choice for the old 4.5 inch rim.

 

Plym 46, I have a set of 205/75r-15's, I think that is close to, if not the exact, replacement size for the original 6.70-15's. I'm hoping it works... stupid me forgot to measure the rim width. It is really only 4.5"? If seems wider, but like I said, I didn't measure it.

 

I ran radials on my first '53 Chevy on the stock wheels for years with no problems. How large is the oval hole in your wheels? Most modern wheels take a valve stem that's either 7/16 or 5/8 in diameter. Is the hole small enough that you could drill it to a 5/8 inch round hole?

 

Stock Mopar rims are safety rims. Mopar introduced the safety rim to the market as factory equipment in something like 1940 or so and every Mopar( Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, and Plymouth/Dodge Trucks) since has had them from the factory.

 

Chrysler cars were the first in the industry with both safety rims and tubeless tires as standard equipment ... you shouldn't have any problems if the beads are clean.

 

lots of folks running 205 75 on stock early mopar wheels, with no issues. I am running 205 up front and 225 75's on the rear, but I am running wheelvintiques after market rims. they are only 5 inch wide. the 205's are a bit short your speedo wil probably be of by 5 or 6 mph car goig slower than indicated. which is why I switched to the 225's. my car was originally equiped with 6.00 16s. So still a bit off, 3 mph at 55.

 

Agree.

 

Well, apparently mounting radials with radial tubes is illegal (maybe just in PA?) so that is not an option for me. Looks like my stepdad is gonna weld the holes shut for me and re-drill new holes, one wheel at a time. My crazy work schedule and little experience welding prevents me from doing it myself. Plus I have a feeling he wants to help